Question

When synergids and antipodals make the embryo, it is
A. Apospory
B. Apomixis
C. Amphimixis
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint:Apomixis is an extremely important method to develop seeds just like the mother plant. Apomixis is a method employed to preserve the good characters over multiple generations for crop plants. It basically aids in producing hybrid seeds with a combination of desirable characters.

Complete answer: Antipodals and synergids are essentially portions of the embryo sac. They are a result of meiotic divisions in the megaspore mother cell by the process of gametogenesis. In the process of apomixis, reproduction is carried out by special generative tissues of the sporophyte or the gametophyte, without actual fertilization (no zygote formation) and the embryo develops from the gametophytic tissues (like antipodals/synergids) itself. There are various applications of apomixis and advents as well like it allows the rapid growth of seeds, it leads to the multiplication of various embryos by underused germplasms, it can effectively reduce the cost of plant production by neglecting several complications faced otherwise during sexual reproduction. Dandelions can be grown through the process of apomixis.

So, the correct answer is option B. Apomixis.

Note: It is noteworthy that, apomixis is often confused with parthenocarpy, another mode of asexual reproduction. Parthenocarpy produces fruits without fertilization, while apomixis is the production of seeds without actual fertilization between the male and the female gamete.